NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE - Part 2

Written by Leona Nielsen
Published on December 2015

Annie and Joseph had just arrived back from an afternoon away. They are now about to start telling the others of their adventures. Let’s join them……

“Everyone ready to hear about our afternoon? I think Joseph should start because I had been there before. So, Joseph, you have the spot light.†said Annie.
“Wait just one minute! Are you feeling all right Annie? I never thought the day would come when you gave up your chance to be in the spotlight! Let me get started before you change your mind! Thank you Annie, I would love to tell everyone about the afternoon.†said Joseph.
“Then Mr Spotlight, the floor is yours. If you don‘t mind me saying a word or two here and thereâ€
“Not at all Annie. I guess I have to start off by saying, what a crazy morning going on and off the trailer. I couldn’t understand, for the life of me, what was going on! At one point I was starting to think that our owners had lost their minds.â€
“Joseph, it didn’t make any sense to me either.†said Annie.
“I can see where you were just as confused Annie. Then the final time I was put on the trailer the tall divider had been put in. I knew there was someone on the other side, but for the life of me I couldn’t see who it was. How did you feel, Annie, when the tall divider went in?â€
“Well, my first guess was that we were going to pick up someone along the way like before when I went to the clinic and Leroy came along. Never did I guess it would be you on the other side.â€
“Before I had a chance to sneeze, the trailer came to a stop and all I could see over the door of the trailer was a round pen. Great! All this hullabaloo to work out in a round pen. At this point, I wasn’t too impressed with the situation. Then out of nowhere came……………..
“Hi Annie! Nice to see you have come for a visit.â€
“Hi Haakon. Nice to see you and everyone else.â€
“I stood there looking at what looked like a wall of horses that were cloned. Believe it or not they all looked the same! I was starting to think I had lost my ability to see colour too! What a rush that was and then I found myself inside this huge arena! It was nice in there but I was more concerned with what I had seen outside.â€
“I wish you could have seen Joseph’s eyes when he saw all the horses and then when Haakon spoke to be me I thought Joseph’s eyes were going to burst.†added Annie.
“I can imagine what I must have looked like. I thought I was seeing double of everything. Anyway, back in the arena our owner got me harnessed up and we made a few laps around the arena. Afterwards, he faced me towards the wall. I started thinking that if this was all the work I was going to do, it would be nothing short of sweet. As far as I was concerned, our owner was still sitting in the cart. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw Annie coming towards me with her cart, doing the same thing as I had done with our owner driving. HELLO!!! Then whose weight is that I feel in my cart? If there is anything that you need to know about a donkey, it is that we have to know what is around us at all times. You can imagine how I was feeling at this point. I was so out of my comfort zone! It was painful trying to figure it all out. Then I was asked to move out, and in doing so I was able to see that a young lady was with me.
Yes, I even thought about testing her skills. You see it totally depended upon who was in the seat…. A newbie meant I wasn’t going to have to work so hard, whereas someone experienced would put me through the paces in a nice way. But, at this point, I had to be good because I wanted to see more than just the walls of the arena. Would you believe the next thing I heard was “I think we are good to go†and the door opened and we were off into the world.
As we were travelling along, all you could hear was Annie, “Who did you bring with you? This is Joseph, part of my family and a donkey too. Chat more when we come back. Hi Toivo, Mo and where is Lykke. He is on the other side of the pasture. We will let him know you are here.â€
We were travelling at a good pace and I looked over at Annie and put on the brakes. All I heard, “What did you do that for Joseph!!!†I answered… “STOP Annie, for a minute! Don’t smell the flowers, just think of what is happening. Look Annie, we are driving together for the first time. We have gone different places but never together. We are making history!†At that point I knew she hadn’t even thought about it. Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped so fast. I could feel some adjustments being made in the seat. Then I heard, “Is this what he meant when he was telling us what might happen?â€
Annie looked at me and she was as confused as I as to what the girls were saying, but before we could discuss it further, we were on the move again. Our next stop was at another house where a lady came out to see us. She took so many pictures! Her hands were so soft and gentle that she almost put me in a coma. Then it came to saying good bye and getting back on the move. Once we left the girls started chatting away in a language we couldn’t understand. They had no problem. If there ever was a day that confused me it was this one.
On the way back to the arena we did get a chance to chat to the horses. Lykke got the word we were here and with him came Sebastion, Scottie, Philly and goodness knows who else. Those horses were not like the ones that I am used to at the shows. They looked different but after talking to them I could see they were just like us. I remember Haakon because I think he has the capability of being like me. As for remembering who was who, I think I will leave that one to someone else.
Now, as for the girls, I have come to the conclusion that they have two chats. One when others are around and a secret one that only they understand. Maybe I will see if I can get myself a secret chat.â€
“We had a good time but I wish you all could have been there with us.†added Annie
“Havier, can I ask a question now?â€
“By all means Baby. I have a few questions too.â€
“Did you ever find out if the girls were newbies or experienced?â€
“Well Baby I didn’t dump her out when I stopped fast and she didn’t call for our owner to come and drive. I think Sophie drove me and Ann took me. I certainly can say they weren’t newbies.†answered Joseph.
“Newbies to driving us though, Joseph.â€
“Yep Annie. I heard one of them say that it was the first time being around donkeys. I hope I was looking good enough that they will remember me.â€
“Joseph!!!!â€
“Well Baby, I have to say they were both cute. I am going to make it my mission to find out more about them.†Joseph smiled as he answered.
“The Fjords or the girls Joseph?â€
“What do you think? Of course the horses Baby, but if I get a chance to see the girls that won’t be bad either.â€
“Oh Joseph. I should have known!â€
“What kind of horses were they?†asked Jake.
“The one called Pearl said they were fjords. They welcomed us to their home and, like us, had nice manners. Anyone who has nice manners is nice to be around.†Annie replied.
“Now, let’s get to the secret chat you talked about.â€
“Well Havier, just before we left we heard that the girls were from a foreign country. They had manners too. Talking English when others were around.â€
“Ok. That makes sense now. They were speaking in their language just like we chat in ours.†Havier added.
“Now just one more question before dinner Joseph. Does it come in three?â€
“I think I have to say yes. The third one would be being out of my comfort zone there for a bit. It didn’t feel good, but at the end of the day I went, survived and would go back in a heartbeat. Wallis Point you will never be the same now that I have been there!â€
“Joseph!!!!!â€
“Just kidding.â€
“I think we should think about settling in for the night.â€
“Ok Havier. It has been a great day and do you know that I have stripes on my legs like the Fjords do?â€
“Joseph, did you hear?â€
“Yep, but I am not answering. I need my sleep.â€
“Good night, Annie.â€
“Good night everyone, Fjords included.â€

Hi Everyone. We hope you liked our story and what we have learned.
The Holiday Season is upon us. As we share the Christmas Season with our families let us not forget those who won’t have their loved ones with them at this time. Christmas today has different meanings to different people but as long as we remember to always be kind to each other, no matter how different we may look, and to treat each other with kindness, is what matters. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. Stay safe and do something good for someone. See you next year
Baby, Joseph, Havier, Jake , Annie and the Cats